Portable sewing apparatus



Aug. 1-, 1939. J. P. WEIS 2,168,276

PORTABLE SEWING APPARATUS I Filed Sept. 1, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR W as wink-o;

ATTORNEY Aug. 1, 1939. J P, w -js 2,168,276

PORTABLE SEWING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 1, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 INVENTOR John 1? Wells" ATTORNEY Aug. 1, 1939. .1. P. WEIS PORTABLE SEWING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 1, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR John P we: W I

' A TTORNE Aug. 1, 1939. J. P. WEIS PORTABLE SEWING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Shet 4 Filed Sept. 1, 1956 ATTOW INVENTOR Jafilz P/Vew Wm 11%;?

Patented Aug, 1, 193% was PATENT err-1c 2,168,276 7 PORTABLE SEWING APPARATUS John P. Wcis, Nyack, N. Y., assignor to Willcox & Gibbs Sewing Machine Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 1, 1936, Serial No. 98,855

6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in portable sewing apparatus for stitching and closing the tops of filled bags and like receptacles and represents an improvement of the apparatus disclosed in my copendin'g application Serial No.

In actual use the sewing head of a bagclosing apparatus frequently becomes covered with lint and fine particles of various kinds. This is especially true, when as is often the case, bags made of burlap and other coarse and fuzzy materials are being sewn. Likewise when the bags being sewn are filled with potatoes, flour, wheat, sand or other products, the dirt, grit and powder therefrom is difi'used about the room in which the bag closing apparatus is located and settles upon the working parts of the sewing head. Such a diffusing of powder, grit, and the like, and its depositing on the apparatus appreciably affects the efiiciency of the sewing unit, increases the amount of power required to operate it and causes excessive wear on the moving parts. In

the absence of a careful oiling and cleaning of the sewing unit at least once each day, the productive life of the machine is considerably reduced, and, as indicated above, itsefiiciency is adversely afiected.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a bag closing apparatus in which the sewing head and main operating parts thereof may be easily and quickly oiled and cleaned.

To this end there is provided as an important feature of the invention a pivoted or hinged frame for supporting the sewing unit, whichenables it to be moved relative to the motor unit and dropped to a position where it may be readily submerged in a pail of cleaning fluid, such as gasoline, kerosene, or the like.

The provision of such a structure whereby the sewing unit may be moved from a position immediately adjacent the electric motor to a connected position remote therefrom to permit a thorough cleaning of the sewing unit, minimizes the danger of getting gasoline, kerosene or other cleaning fluids in the motor, which is present in the usual type of apparatus where the motor and sewing units are fixed relative to each other. Such a splashing or spilling of gasoline or kerosene on the motor causes a deterioration of the insulation of the motor windings. Moreover, due to the infiammability of the usual cleaning fluids, there is presented a very real fire hazard as may occur by ignition of the cleaning fluids from the sparking of the commutator of the motor.

Another important objectof the invention is to provide a bag closing apparatus, especially adapted to be hung from a support, in which the operation and control of the sewing unit may be readily controlled by means carried by and associated with the apparatus moving handle.

In carrying out this object there is provided as a feature of the invention an apparatus moving handle carrying a motor controlling switch and having means associated with the handle adapted to be grasped concurrently therewith for controlling the switch and also for controlling the operative driving connection between the motor and the sewing unit.

A further feature of the invention resides in providing a control handle for moving the apparatus, which when released automatically stops the motor, disengages the driving connection between the motor and the sewing unitand applies a brake to the sewingunit. This eliminates the possibility of an operator leaving the motor and/or the sewing unit running when not absolutely necessary.

An important feature resulting from the present invention is the provision of a portable sewing machine in which the sewing unit may be moved from an operative position in the same plane as the motor or' driving unit into a position at a right angle thereto and on a substantially lower plane so that the sewing unit may be fully immersed in a pail of cleaning fluid while the motor unit is entirely free therefrom.

A still further feature is the provision of a portable sewing machine with a sewing unit mov able into a raised operative and into a lowered inoperative position relative to a motor unit, and which will remain substantially in balance with the motor unit in both the operative and inoperative position.

Yet another feature of the invention resides in so associating a bag closing apparatus with a suspension apparatus that the switch controlling the sewing unit driving motor is automatically controlled by pulling the sewing apparatus downwardly from an inoperative position to an operative position for use in sewing the tops of bags and the like.

Still another feature of the invention is to provide a novel means associated with the stitching and feeding mechanism of the sewing unit for cutting the thread-chain as consecutive bags are sewn, thus separating one bag from another without necessitating any hand operation. A complemental feature is the provision of a chain cutter which is in an out of the way position entirely below the throat plate and regular sewing level of the machine.

Other and more specific objects residing in advantageous forms, combinations and relations of parts will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, showing the improved bag closing apparatus provided by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the sewing unit in a lowered position relative to the motor unit.

Fig. 2a is a detailed view showing thenovel driving connection and control between the motor unit and the sewing unit.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the motor unit carrying and sewing machine carrying frames, the sewing unit carrying frame being in a lowered position, and the sewing machine and motor units being omitted for greater clarity in illustration.

Fig. 4 is a view of the motor carrying and sewing unit carrying frames, the sewing unit carrying frame being in a lowered position, looking in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail view. showing the novel thread-chain cutting means provided by the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the movable cutter and the fixed cutter of the thread-chain cutting means.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the fixed cutter.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the feed dog and the extension to which the movable cutter is secured.

Fig. 9 is a view showing the novel switch con trol operated by the movement of the bag closing apparatus from a raised to a lowered position.

Fig. 10 is a view showing the bag closing apparatus moving handle, having associated therewith special means for controlling the motor switch and the connection between the motor the and mode of operation thereof in detail it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative of the present preferred embodiments, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and the phraseology employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings there is shown a novel cradle 20 for carrying a sewing unit 2| and associated motor unit 22 in such a way that the apparatus may be readily hung from a suspension device, for example, such as the one disclosed in Fig. 9.

Of particular importance, the cradle 20 comsecondary frame 21 which constitutes a part of the cradle 20. Secured to the pivoted or secondary frame 2T and extending outwardly therefrom and from the The operating parts of the sewing machine in-- clude the usual needle lever 3|, needle bar 32 and needle 33 which cooperates with the usual looper (not shown) carried at one end of the shaft 34. Connected to the shaft 34 at the other end thereof is a belt wheel or driving pulley 35 and eccentrics 36 and 31 which latter are through driving pitman 38 ,and rod 39-respectively connected to the needle lever 3| and an automatic tension device 4|.

A usual feeding mechanism operates a feed dog 42 such as illustrated in Fig. 5 to feed the work and also feed out the chain of stitches formed between consecutive bags or the like as they are sewn. Cooperating with the feed dog to maintain' the work in proper relation with the needle 33 is apresser foot 43 carried by a presser bar 44 and adapted to be raised by pivoted lever 45 having an end 46 des' ed to fit into the palm of the hand while the figers of the hand grasp a cross bar 41 on the se ng m'achine frame.

Secured to the main frame 23 by screws 48 is the electric motor 22 having a driving connection 49 with the sewing machine.

In achieving an especially advantageous driving connection between the motor 22 and the sewing machine, there is fixed to the motor shaft 50 a rotatable member or fly wheel 5| having a downwardly extending hub 52. A screw 53, a pin 54 and a key 55 held in position by a set screw 56 serve to prevent relative movement between the motor shaft 50 and the fly wheel.

Rotatably mounted on the hub 52 of the fly wheel and freely slidable thereon to be operatively associated with the under face 51 of the flywheel is a clutch pulley 58' An annular friction ring 59 of leather or other suitable material fixed to the upper face 60 of the clutch pulley enables a satisfactory frictional driving engagement between the fly wheel and the movable clutch pulley when the latter is in an upper operative position. A belt 6| serves as a driving connection between the sewing machine driving pulley 35 and the clutch pulley.

A sleeve bushing 62 in the hub portion 63 of the clutch pulley 58 enables. a free sliding relation between that member and the fly wheel hub 52. For supporting the movable pulley 58 and for effecting an upward movement thereof into frictional engagement with the fly wheel-is a ball thrust bearing 54 located in a housing 65 formed in the lower face of the clutch pulley.

A lever 66.fulcrumed on a pin 61 in brackets 68 on the main frame 23 and having a yoke portion 69 underlying the thrust bearing 54 functions to support the latter, and through it move the clutch pulley 58 into operative association with the fiy wheel 5| as shown in. Fig. 1. When the lever is moved downwardly, the clutch pulley is permitted to fall by gravity from its engagement with the fly wheel, as shown in Fig. 2a.

This is a particularly advantageous construction in that a disengagement of the clutch and the fly wheel is assured and because by varying the pressure with which the clutch. is pushed upwardly against the flywheel a regulation of the speed of the sewing machine may be effected;

The advantageous and novel means by which the movement of the clutch moving lever 66 is enabled to be controlled concurrently with the shifting of the bag closing apparatus from one position to another will be explained hereinafter in detail. I

Preferably, and as shown, a brake shoe I8 is provided on a portion 1| of the lever 66 extendpin 13 carried in brackets 14 on the main frame 23 and adapted to enclose the drivingpuliey 85 of the sewing machine. 15, connected to brackets 18 and 16 on the main frame is provided to enclose the 'fiy wheel and clutch pulley 58. The guard 12 may be swung to the raised position shown in Fig. 2 without difiiculty whereupon the belt 6| may be easily and quickly connected to and disconnected from the pulley 35. l s

As above indicated, the sewing unit 2| is secured to a frame 21 which is movable relative to the motor unit 22 from a raised position, shown in Fig. 1, to a lowered position shown in Fig. 2.

The practical and advantageous accomplishing of this result constitutes one of the important fea. tures of the invention. Because of this feature the sewing unit may be operatively disassociated from the motor unit 22 and swung downwardly therefrom to be easily cleaned, as by submerging in a pail of cleaning fluid.

In achieving this desired end spaced lugs 11 are provided on the lower portion of the main frame 23 and preferably integral therewith to carry therebetween a pivot pin 18 on which the secondary frame 21 carrying the sewing unit 2| is pivotally supported through lugs 18. formed thereon. Shoulders 88 and 80 formed on the main and pivoted frames 28 and 2'! respectively, prevent movement of the latter beyond the lowered position shown in Fig. 2. While in such a position the belt 6| is removed from the driving pulley as shown.

Normally, however, the pivoted frame 21 and the sewing unit 2| are maintained in a raised position and in operative association with the.

motor unit as shown in Fig. 1 as by means of a pin 82, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, which is carried in a bracket 88 on the main frame and is movable to engage with a bracket 86 on the pivoted frame.

Also provided by the present invention is a control handle 85 for moving and guiding the stitching mechanism 88 of the sewing unit 2| across the tops of bags to be sewn, and which carries means adapted to be grasped concurrently therewith for controlling a motor switch 86 and the movement of the clutch pulley 58 into engagement with the fiy wheel 5|. and as shown, the handle 85 is formed integral with the main frame 23 of the cradle 28.

Themotor control switch 86, as shown most clearly in Figs'. 3 and 10, is carried in the handle and has a lead 81 adapted to .be connected to a A similar cover or guard Preferably,

source of electricity and a, lead 88 passing through and covered by the handle and connected to the motor. This covering of the lead 88 by the handle serves to guard against its being broken or unduly worn in the normal course oi the operations. The switch 86, as shown, is of the conventional one way type having a push button 88 normally held in an extended switch opening position by a usual inner spring (not shown) in order to break the connection between the source of current and the motor. A finger or trigger 88 pivotally connected to the handle "by a pin 8| is provided for pushing the button 88 inwardly to close the circuit between the motor 22 and the current tource. 82 of light pressure normally urges the finger 88 from engagement with the switch push button Also carried in the handle 85 and pivotally con- A spring nected thereto on a pin 88 is a second finger or trigger 84 connected to the clutch pulley moving lever 66 and so positioned relative to the switch controlling finger 88 that when the handle is grasped by the hand of an operator the fingers 88 and 84 are grasped concurrently therewith, the switch trigger contacting the palm and the clutch trigger the fingers of the operator's hand.

The connection between the finger 86 of the clutch. lever 66 provided by the present invention and enabling a positive and sensitive control of the sewing machine drive includes a rod 85 connected at one end to the finger or tripper .84 and at the other end to e arm 86- of a bell crank 81 pivotally mounted pon stud 81' on the main frame 28. The other arm 88 of the bell crank is connected to a rod 89 which in turn is connected to the fulcrumed clutch lever 66. A spring I88, connected at one end to av bracket |8| on the main frame 28 and at its other end to the arm 88 of the bell crank 88 through rod 85 exerts a normal bias to swing the clutch lever 66 in such a way that the yoke portion 68 thereof is moved downwardly to permit a disengagement of /the clutch pulley 58 from the fly wheel 5| and cause the brake shoe E8 to be moved upwardly into en'- gagement with the sewing machine pulley 35.

With this construction, the bag closing apparatus, when properly suspended, may be moved to any desired position relative to the bags to be sewn by merely grasping the handle 85 with one hand and at thesame time andwith the same hand the operations of starting and stopping of the motor 22 and conditioning of the driving connection 88 to the sewing unit may be easily controlled. Preferably the'spring H88 in the clutch control linkage B88 is stronger than the switch lever "spring 82 so that an initial squeeze of the handle A somewhat tighter squeeze compresses the trigger 84 which through the linkage above outlined moves the clutch pulley 58 upwardly into operative engagement with the motor fly wheel. By varying the degree of squeeze on the trigger 84 in the handle the amount of slippage between the clutch 56 and itsdriving wheel 5| may be controlled to thereby vary the speed of the sewing machine as desired. Also, when a light grip is maintained the electric motor can be kept running while the sewing machineis inoperative, to

facilitate an immediate starting of the latter. A release of the handle or of a tight squeezing grip thereon automatically stops the sewing machine by fully opening the switch 86 and causing engagement of the brake shoe 10 with the sewing machine pulley 35. This eliminates the danger of an operator leaving the apparatus and permitting the motor unit to needlessly function.

Instead of the advantageous control handle disclosed most clearly in Figs. 3, 4 and 10, the slightly modified control handle 85a shown in Fig. 11 may be used. This modified handle 85a is associated with the main frame in the same manner as the one first described. It differs from that handle in that the motor switch 86a is so positioned therein that movement of one finger or trigger 94a controls the switch 86a as well as the clutch pulley 58.

This is accomplished by locating the spring pressed push button 89a of the switch to extend toward the trigger 94a so that when the trigger is squeezed it first closes the switch and then also, through linkage I02, moves the clutch 58 into engagement with the motor fly wheel. As with the control handle disclosed in Fig. 10 a delicate finger control for starting and/or stopping either or both the motor unit 22 and the sewing unit 2I is achieved by merely varying the degree of squeeze on the handle.

In Fig 12 is illustrated a control handle 8517 which is a modification of the handles shown in both Figs. 10 and 11. It includes, as does each of the others, a pivotally mounted finger or trigger 94b for controlling the clutch pulley 58 and the brake shoe 10. It differs from each of the other control handles in that the trigger 94b is provided with an opening I03 therein for a control trigger or finger I04 of the motor controlling switch 86b. This control trigger I04, as do the push buttons 89 and 89a in the switches disclosed in Figs. 10 and 11, has a normal bias to open the switch. Upon grasping the handle, an initial squeeze compresses the switch control finger I04 to start the motor and a further squeeze moves the trigger 94b to control the clutch pulley 58.

The ease with which a bag closing apparatus may be manipulated by a control handle such as the one disclosed in Fig. 10, or if desired such as the one disclosed in Figs. 11 and 12, is therefore readily apparent. sewn, however, and the apparatus manipulated by the control handle to operate on first one bag and then another, there is the problem of cuttin the thread-chain which otherwise would runbetween consecutive bags.

For accomplishing this desired end of cutting the thread-chain between the bags there is provided by the present invention a novel thread cutting means I05, shown most clearly in Fig. 5, associated with the feed dog 42 and a work guiding plate I06 of the sewing machine. With this means the bags are separated one from the other and without necessitating any special hand operation.

This thread-chain cutting mea I05 comprises a fixed shear blade or cutter I01 secured by screws I09 to the side of an angularly disposed portion IIO of the work guiding and supporting plate I06. The blade I01 has acutting edge I08 extending rearwardly from the needle 33 of the stitching mechanism 40 in the direction of material feed and cooperablewith a movable shear blade or cutter III, having -a cutting edge II2, movable with the feed dog 42. An extension II3 projecting laterally from .thefeed dog 42 and to As consecutive bags are which the movable cutter II I is securely fixed by a screw H4 and a pair of flanges I I5 overlyingopposite sides of the extension, serves to properly locate the movable cutter I I I relative to the fixed cutter I01. I

Thus, after the completion of the sewing of one bag it is merely necessary for the operator, without releasing the control handle 85, to manipulate the apparatus in such a way that the thread-chain is caught between the cutters I01 and II I and severed.

As seen clearly in Fig. 1, the cutters are closely adjacent and below the stitch forming mechanism 40 when the pivoted sewing unit carrying frame 21 is in a raised and normal position. Hence, in most cases, the trailing thread-chain simply slides over the side of the work guiding plate I06 and drops between cutters I01 and III after the sewn bag is fed through the apparatus. The angularly disposed portion III! of the work guiding and supporting plate I06 extending in the direction of material feed aids in directing the thread-chain to the cutters I01 and III which likewise extend in the direction of material feed and are cooperable to cut in a plane at right angles to the guiding plate I06 and angularly disposed portion IIO.

In Fig. 9 is disclosed an advantageous motor control II6 associated with a conventional suspension device I I1 for the bag carrying apparatus rather than with the control handle. As shown, the suspension device is of the type including a reel or drum (not shown) in a housing H8 and having a constant bias to return a cable H9 thereon, for supporting the bag closing apparatus, to an upward and wound condition. Secured to the underside of the housing I I8 is a switch I20 of the type described in connection with Figs. 10, 11 and 12, adapted to control the circuit between the sewing machine motor 22 and the source of current supply and having a push button I2I with a constant bias normally to return to an extended and circuit opening position. A lever I22 fulcrumed betweena pair of ears I23 and also positioned on the underside of the housing II8 has an end I24 engageable with the push button I2I to thereby control the motor circuit, and has a yoke portion I25 adapted to .be engaged by a collar I26 on the cable I I9 when the latter is in a wound condition.

Preferably a cushioning interponent I30 is provided between the "collar I26 and the yoke I25 of the lever I22 so that there is no shock to the suspension device I I1, and so that the raised position of the sewing machine with respect to the suspension device need not be closed or critical.

The interponent I30 may be in-the form of a metallic spring. However, it is preferably, as shown, made of a yielding rubber sleeve I3I with cupped washers I32 and I33 at the ends thereof, all provided with a hole I34 adapted to slide upon the cable 1 I9 between the collar I26 and yoke I25.

When the cable I I9 is in a wound condition to lift the bag carrying apparatus upwardly from a working position with relation to bags to be sewn so that the sewing machine is in a position preferably above the head of the operator, the collar I26 or the yielding interponent I30 engages the yoke portion I25 of the lever to move the end I24 thereof downwardly, thereby permitting the switch controlling button I20 to move to an extended and switch opening position. When, however, the cable II9 is pulled downwardly, as for bringing the bag closing apparatus into working of the operator.

Other variations and modifications may be.-

made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described theinvention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a main frame; a pivoted frame connected to said main frame and having a raised vertical position closely adjacent one side thereof and alowered position extending horizontally relative thereto; means for normally maintaining said pivoted frame in said raised position; means for arresting movement of said pivoted frame in said lowered position; a motor unit on said main frame; a sewing unit on said pivoted frame; a driving connection between said motor and sewing unit; and means on said main frame adapted to be associated with a suspension apparatus.

2.. An apparatus of the class described comprising a suspensible carrier having a main frame and a secondary frame; a motor unit onsaid main frame; a sewing machine on said secondary frame in said lowered horizontal position; and

means for normally maintaining said secondary frame in said raised position.

3. An apparatus of the class'described comprising a main frame; a secondary frame movable from a raised vertical position adjacent one side of said main frame to a predetermined lowered horizontal position; a motor unit on said main frame; a sewing unit on said secondary frame; a driving connection between said motor and sewingunlts; releasable means for mainframe; pivot means for connecting said secondtaining said secondary frame in said raised vertical position; stop means for arresting movement of said secondary frame in said lowered horizontal position with the sewing machine therebeneath; pivot means for connecting said main and secondary frames and for positively guiding said secondary frame to and from said raised and lowered .positions; and means on said main frame 'for associating the latter and the connected secondary frame with a suspension apparatus.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a main frame; a secondary frame movable from a raised vertical position adjacent one side of said main frame to a predetermined lowered horizontal position; a motor unit on said main frame; asewing unit on said secondary frame; a driving connection between said motor and sewingunits; stop means for arresting movement of said secondary frame in said raised vertical position; releasable means for normally main-" taining said secondary frame in said raised vertical position; stop means for arresting movement of said secondary frame in said lowered horizontal position with the sewing machine therebeneath; pivot means for connecting said main and secondary frames and for positively guiding said secondary frame .to and from said raised and lowered positions; and means on said main frame for associating the latter and the connected secondary frame with a suspension apparatus.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising a main frame and a secondary frame; a motor unit on said main frame; a sewing machine on said secondary frame including a-needle bar; means for connecting said frames and for pivoting the secondary frame' from a raised substantially vertical position. to a lowered and substantially horizontal position about an axis being perpendicular to a vertical plane containing the axis of the needle bar; means for arresting pivotal movement of said secondary frame in said lowered and substantially horizontal position; and means for operatively connecting said motor unit and said sewing machine when said secondary,

frame is in the raisedposition.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a motor unit having a shaft; a

sewing unit including a needle bar, said needle bar being normally in a raised position and at a right angle to said motorv shaft; and means for pivoting said needle bar to a lowered position parallel to said motor shaft.

JOHN P. WEIS. 

